Thursday, February 26, 2015

Dog owners in the Hunter region are being urged to ensure
their pets are up-to-date with their parvovirus vaccinations with a spike in
cases.

“We are seeing dogs fall ill across a large area at the
moment,” RSPCA Hunter Vet Manager Dr Simone Cooper said. “Dogs have fallen ill
in the Lake Macquarie region as well as Rutherford, Maitland, Singleton,
Cesssnock and Kurri,” Dr Cooper said.

“We've even seen dogs die from four homes in the same street
in Weston, the situation is incredibly serious and a major concerns with the
weather set to stay warm and see the virus thrive,” she said.

Parvovirus (often referred to as parvo), is a viral
infection that affects young puppies and unvaccinated adult dogs. The disease is incredibly hardy, and can survive
up to a year in the environment. It’s highly contagious and can be contracted
through direct or indirect contact with infected dog faeces.

“Even if dogs don’t come in direct contact with an infected
dog, they can still contract the virus through contaminated objects such as
shoes, clothes, even the ground,” Dr Cooper said.

Once infected, dogs typically start to show signs within
seven to ten days. Symptoms may include
loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting and profuse, bloody diarrhoea which can
quickly lead to dehydration. If left
untreated, severe shock and subsequent death can occur within a 24-hour period.

The only way to protect your dog against this deadly disease
is through preventive vaccination.
Puppies are first vaccinated at six to eight weeks of age, with a
booster two to four weeks later. Dogs then need another booster every year.

“People cannot underestimate the potency and prevalence of
this virus right now. If in any doubt about your pets’ vaccination history,
speak to your vet immediately,” Dr Cooper concluded.

Our vet services can help you protect your dog. Contact us on 02 9770 7555 for more information.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

St Patricks' Day is an Irish cultural and religious celebration held annually on the 17th March. Although originating in Ireland, it has since become recognized world-wide, with many people embracing the event by wearing green and decorating with shamrocks.

In celebration of St Patrick's Day, RSPCA NSW is highlighting our current Irish Wolfhounds, and why they make such great pets!

The Irish Wolfhound is of ancient origins and in Ireland, these dogs were favoured by Irish Chiefs for hunting wolves and Irish elk. Irish Wolfhounds are known to be big-hearted, gentle, and sensitive creatures, but their size is an important consideration, in fact Irish Wolfhounds are the tallest breed of dog!Like all sighthounds, the Irish Wolfhound is known to love chasing and running, but they are generally model citizens with other dogs, pets and children. Their great size can be intimidating, but due to their gentle nature, are generally not known to be good guard dogs.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

On 18th of December 2013, the RSPCA received a complaint in
relation to a dog taken to Blacktown Council Pound. Witnesses described the dog as being skin and
bones, missing large amounts of hair and having scabs, pus and sores over its
body.

The Pound staff advised the man with the dog, that the animal required urgent veterinary
treatment. Witness accounts state the man became agitated and left the pound
after staff questioned him about the dog’s poor condition.

One witness approached the defendant in the car park where
he agreed to give her the dog. The woman immediately took the dog to a local
vet who assessed the dog as being very underweight with a body score of 1/5,
where 1 is emaciated and 5 is ideal. The
dog had no discernible fat and was experiencing severe muscle wastage, he had a
heavy flea burden and severe areas of hair loss associated with severe
thickening caused by rubbing, scratching and crusting. These conditions would have been present one
month prior to presentation.

After taking witness statements from the woman and pound
staff members, the RSPCA Inspector then spoke to the man on the 13th of
February, 2014. During the interview the defendant said he’d gone away for a
week and returned to find the dog in that condition. He said he believed it was
from a spider or insect bite. The dog was reportedly in the care of his parents
while he was away. The man stated his parents told him there was something
wrong with the dog. He said he took her to the pound a week after he returned.

The man said the dog’s appetite had notably declined and
that he didn’t think his dog’s condition was normal, but couldn’t afford vet or
medical care. He acknowledged the dog would have been in discomfort.

The RSPCA Inspector took photographs taken of the dog (by
witnesses on the 17th of December, 2013) to a veterinary skin specialist for
assessment. The report noted the dog to have a skin disease which was
characterized by extensive hair loss with skin thickening and increased
pigmentation affecting over 70% of the body surface area and would have been
present for at least three months prior to presentation and more likely for six
months or more. The generalised disease
and poor body condition was not consistent with an initial localised insult or
trauma, including a spider bite.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Owners of domestic rabbits are
urged to ensure their pets are fully vaccinated against the deadly Calicivirus
before 28th February 2015. The Calicivirus baits are set to be laid
in late March, weather permitting.

The warning comes as many councils across Sydney prepare to release the virus in a bid to tackle the ongoing
feral rabbit population in the area.

The virus is highly contagious and
spread by rabbit-to-rabbit contact and by biting insects, causing a
rapid death for rabbits. “The best form of protection is a yearly vaccination,”
said RSPCA NSW Chief Veterinarian Magdoline Awad. “Rabbits should also be
housed in a mosquito-proof enclosure away from contact with wild rabbits,” Dr
Awad said.

“The virus only affects rabbits and
causes a disease known as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease or RHD. The virus works
by infecting a number of organs including the lungs, gut and liver of the
rabbit. The liver infection causes acute hepatitis that can kill the rabbit
within 48 hours,” Dr Award said.

There is a vaccine available from
your vet to protect your pet rabbit from this virus. The vaccine is given once
to rabbits over 12 weeks of age. For younger rabbits, the first vaccine
requires a booster. All rabbits require yearly boosters. Contact us to get your rabbit vaccinated.

All RSPCA rabbits are vaccinated
for calicivirus, desexed and microchipped prior to adoption.

Monday, February 23, 2015

A 33-year-old woman has been fined $750 and banned from
owning animals for two years after appearing in Mount Druitt Local Court on
Thursday, the 19th of February, 2015 and pleading guilty to two counts failing
to provide veterinary treatment to her female Great Dane dog resulting in its
death.

Charges

Fail to
provide veterinary treatment — Flea Burden (one charge)

Fail to
provide veterinary treatment — Emaciation
(one charge)

Key Facts

On 27th July 2014, a complaint was received by RSPCA NSW
alleging that a dog was dead in a backyard in Bidwill. On arrival, a four-year-old black and grey
female Great Dane was seen laying unresponsive in the rear yard. There was no
one home at the time.

The dog was noted to be in an emaciated body condition with
its ribs, spine and hipbones clearly prominent.

NSW Police assisted in seizing the deceased dog and the
RSPCA transported it to the RSPCA Sydney Shelter in Yagoona where a post mortem
was conducted.

An RSPCA Veterinarian noted the dog weighed 21kg and had all
bone prominences easily visible from a distance. Based on the Tufts Animal Care
and Condition Scales for assessing body condition, where 1 is an ideal body
condition and 5 is the most underweight, this dog was given a body condition
score of 5. Further observations noted severe generalised muscle and fat
atrophy, with the rib, bony prominences of the scapula, spine and hips easily
visualised and palpated. A large amount
of flea dirt was also found alongside live fleas. It was estimated the dog had
needed treatment for fleas for no less than two weeks but likely longer.

The vet assessed that the dog would have required a
veterinary examination for its emaciated body condition and necessary treatment
for a period of no less than 4 weeks prior to its death.

Two RSPCA Inspectors returned to the residence where the dog
was found to interview the woman on the 4th August, 2014. The woman said she owned
the female Great Dane for around four years and was in charge of
her daily care.

The woman said she was aware that the dog needed treatment for worms
and that the dog hadn't seen a vet for a year or two.

The woman said though she usually lived at the residence, she
had been staying elsewhere, returning home sporadically to give her two dogs
food and water.

She admitted knowing her two dogs fought over food, and the
male dog dominated, leaving the Great Dane to starve, and she did nothing to
intervene.

The accused last attended her home on 27th July 2014, not
returning until some four days later. She failed to have anyone else check on
the animals or feed them in her absence.

The woman said she last saw the dog alive on the 27th of July,
stating “she was on the...she was on like the… the slender side,” describing
her body condition as “Um, like her back bone a little bit was...a little bit
was showing and her haunches,” and acknowledging that the dog did not look
normal or healthy.

Sentencing

FINE:
$750

TWO YEAR
GOOD BEHAVIOUR BOND

ORDERED
TO REHOME CURRENT DOG

PROHIBITED
FROM OWNING, ACQUIRING OR BEING IN CHARGE OF AN ANIMAL FOR TWO YEARS

Thursday, February 19, 2015

RSPCA NSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Coleman is welcoming
the opportunity to be part of an independent panel to investigate allegations
of live baiting within the greyhound industry in New South Wales.

It comes after the board and CEO of Greyhound Racing NSW
stood down overnight, in the wake of the video footage showing the blooding of
greyhounds using live rabbits, possums and piglets.

The head of the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing Paul
Newson, has been named interim CEO. Mr Newson will join Mr Coleman on the
investigative panel to be headed by former High Court Justice Michael McHugh.
Additional members are to be appointed in coming days.

“Our focus is on the welfare of animals. This is a unique opportunity to go back to
square one and consider all of the aspects that potentially impact on welfare
including whether self-regulation is the future for this industry,” Mr Coleman
said.

Deputy Premier Troy Grant has said ‘everything is on the
table’ when it comes to preventing further cases of live baiting, and restoring
the integrity of the industry.

“This is what we’ve been asking for since the footage came
to light, and we are heartened that our calls have been heeded,” Mr Coleman
concluded.

Monday, February 16, 2015

RSPCA NSW is
investigating allegations of live baiting in the Greyhound racing industry.

Last week,
inspections were conducted across three properties in Sydney in conjunction
with NSW Police.

The RSPCA received a
complaint including video footage which showed live rabbits and a possum being
used to encourage Greyhounds to chase the lure around the track. Some of these
animals were subjected to extreme distress before eventually being caught and
mauled.

“It is deeply
troubling that live baiting, or blooding, is still seen as a legitimate
training tactic in some Greyhound circles,” said RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman.

“RSPCA NSW received
the complaint and confronting footage on 2nd February, 2015 prompting an
immediate investigation which resulted in the simultaneous inspections at two
greyhound training facilities and one residence in western Sydney last
Wednesday. Our Investigations are continuing,” said RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector
David OShannessy.

The footage and ABC’s
Four Corners investigation implicates trainers in three states, indicating this
illegal practice is present within the industry.

“We do have concerns
about the Greyhound industry’s self-regulation model, and perhaps it is time to
revisit this method of governance,” said Mr Coleman.

“The use of live
rabbits or any animal for training in the Greyhound industry is illegal with
fines of up to $110,000 for a corporation and $22,000 and/or two years
imprisonment for an individual,” Mr Coleman concluded.

RSPCA NSW is
continuing its investigations into this matter and urges the community to
report any animal cruelty concerns via www.rspcansw.org.au or 1300
CRUELTY.

Friday, February 13, 2015

The Petbarn Foundation is hosting their national Pet Dating event this Valentine's Day, Saturday 14th February.

Potential adopters can choose to go on a
mini-date with a number of cuddly animals.

The pets available for adoption will
vary from store to store, and will range from playful kittens to senior cats, puppies,
dogs or even rabbits. There will be no shortage of loving animals all looking
for a forever home.

The aim of the event is to raise awareness of the importance
of pet adoption and encourage everyone to think to consider adopt first when adding a furry friend
to the family.

Petbarn stores across the country
have partnered with a number of local animal shelters including the RSPCA, to offer pet adoptions.

RSPCA NSW is reminding romantics that popular Valentine’s
Day flowers can have deadly consequences for cats.

“Lilies are exceedingly toxic and should be avoided at all
cost,” said Dr Magdoline Awad, RSPCA NSW Chief Veterinarian.

“All parts of the lily are toxic, even a cat licking a small
amount of pollen off their coat or chewing on a leaf can turn fatal,” Dr Awad
said.

A few hours after ingesting the poisonous plant, cats may
become sick and lethargic. After 24 hours, symptoms usually ease, but acute
kidney failure develops within 2-3 days. If untreated, cats can die within 3-7
days.

Indoor cats and kittens are especially drawn to flowers and
plants, as they are a form of environmental enrichment. As they investigate the
plant, it’s common for them to play with and sometimes chew parts of it —
ingesting possible toxins. Pet owners should instead provide safe and appropriate
enrichment such as catnip and cat grass as well as interactive toys for their
cats.

If a pet owner suspects that their cat has ingested any part
of the lily plant, they should take their cat to a vet immediately. “Prevention
is by far better than the cure,” Dr Awad advised.

Other flowers that may cause vomiting, loss of appetite and
depression include:

Friday, February 6, 2015

Dora the goat was the victim of a horrific hunting arrow
attack and her rescue was made possible by the quick response of our
RSPCA Inspectors who were on the scene as soon as Dora’s owner alerted them to
her plight.

Dora was rushed to the RSPCA Sydney Vet Hospital by our
Inspectors and taken into surgery, but there was one pressing problem. We
suspected that Dora might be pregnant. So before anything could be done to save
the mum, we needed to check on the kid... or as we were soon to find out... two
kids. Dora was carrying twins and thankfully, they both had heartbeats.

This story’s happy ending was made possible because you
give so that we can act. Without your generosity and continued support,
Dora’s plight may have been quite different. Your commitment to the cause and
generous support of our services means that we are able to fight for animals
like Dora every day.

Monday, February 2, 2015

RSPCA NSW is treating more cats with cat flu than ever
before, with the Sydney and Hunter shelters at capacity with dozens of
recovered felines needing homes right now.

“Cat flu is one of the most misunderstood illnesses, with
many potential owners instantly dismissing an adoption animal once they hear it
has been sick,” said RSPCA NSW Chief Veterinarian Magdoline Awad.

“In reality, cat flu is much like the human flu — it makes
you sniffly, sneezy, tired and off your food.
But with rest, TLC and occasionally the need for some medication it
clears up,” she said.

The flu can be passed on through sneezing and mucous. It is
also possible for kittens to be exposed to the virus prior to or soon after
birth.

As the RSPCA Sydney Shelter continues to undergo major
renovations the capacity to nurse these cats back to full health has improved,
but following a particularly heavy cat breeding season space is at a premium.

“It’s like a bug in a childcare centre, when one child comes
in sick others invariably pick it up as well. The same applies with cat flu, an
overwhelming population of kittens and young cats, with no previous vaccinations
come into a new environment with all the added stresses. Whilst we vaccinate
all animals on arrival, some still succumb to cat flu — albeit a milder form of
the disease,” said Dr Awad.

When rehoming these cats, RSPCA NSW has a duty of care to let
people know they have been treated for flu, as there is a small chance it could
be contagious to other cats already in the home. “Many owned cats in the home
are vaccinated, in good health and living in a less stressful environment than
a shelter, so the likelihood of catching the flu is minimal and if they do, it
is often very mild,” Dr Awad said.

Like people, cats may relapse in times of stress or when
they are affected by another illness.

“One of the best things to do for a newly recovered kitten is
get it into a home as soon as possible,” Dr Awad said. “Once there, they can
start socialising with people, settle in to the home where the environment is
less stressful, feel calmer, rest and rejuvenate to stay healthy and happy.”

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About us

The RSPCA - The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - is Australia's pre-eminent animal welfare organisation. We provide a strong voice for animals experiencing cruelty and neglect. The RSPCA is not a government agency and receives only a very small amount of funding from the Government. We rely on the generosity of the community and our own fundraising initiatives to fund our vital work.